What CPR Certification Do I Need? CPR, BLS and ACLS Course Finder
What CPR certification do you need? Start with your requirement. If an employer, school or program, or licensing board names a course, take exactly that course. If not, healthcare professionals and first responders usually need BLS, some clinical roles also need ACLS, and people without medical training usually need Heartsaver CPR AED, adding first aid when required.
What this tool is: a guided way to match your situation to an American Heart Association course and format, based on AHA course information and QKC Health's class pages.
What it is not: hands-on training, a certification, or a promise that a specific card will be accepted. Confirm the course and card your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules require before you register.
Find Your CPR, BLS, or ACLS Course
Answer the questions below to see the AHA course, format, and QKC Health class that usually fit. Your answers stay on this page. Nothing is sent or saved.
Answer every question that is shown. Some questions appear only after an earlier answer.
Which CPR Certification Do I Need? Decision Table
The same choices the finder makes, row by row. Find the row that matches your situation, then confirm the course with whoever set your requirement.
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| Your situation | AHA course | QKC Health class |
|---|---|---|
| Your requirement names a course | That exact course | The class with that name, or call to ask |
| Healthcare role or first responder, no BLS card yet | BLS Provider | BLS Provider Class |
| BLS card current or recently expired | BLS Provider, renewal | BLS Renewal Class |
| Prefer blended learning, online part not done yet | HeartCode BLS or HeartCode ACLS online, then a skills session | BLS Skills Session or ACLS Skills Session |
| Skills only: HeartCode BLS online finished | BLS Provider, blended | BLS Skills Session |
| Healthcare role that also needs first aid | BLS Provider plus a first aid course | A BLS class plus Heartsaver First Aid |
| Role requires ACLS, no ACLS card yet | ACLS Provider | ACLS Provider Class |
| ACLS card current or recently expired | ACLS Provider, renewal | ACLS Renewal Class |
| Skills only: HeartCode ACLS online finished | ACLS Provider, blended | ACLS Skills Session |
| Card expired for an extended period | The full course, not renewal | BLS Provider Class or ACLS Provider Class |
| No medical training, CPR and AED needed | Heartsaver CPR AED | Heartsaver CPR AED |
| No medical training, first aid also needed | Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, full version (Heartsaver Total) | Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED |
| Heartsaver card to renew | Your Heartsaver course | Call to confirm; no renewal class is listed |
| First aid only | Heartsaver First Aid | Heartsaver First Aid Course |
| Childcare work with infants and children | Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED | Not listed on our site; call to ask |
| Teacher, coach, or parent caring for children | Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED | Not listed on our site; call to ask |
| Advanced care for infants and children | PALS | Not listed on our site; call to ask |
Based on AHA course information and QKC Health's class pages, listed in the Sources section. QKC Health's renewal classes are for a current or recently expired card; call to confirm that yours qualifies. Every AHA course that includes CPR skills ends with an in-person skills test.
Class pages: BLS Provider Class, BLS Renewal Class, BLS Skills Session, ACLS Provider Class, ACLS Renewal Class, ACLS Skills Session, Heartsaver CPR AED, Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, and the Heartsaver First Aid Course. For course dates, or to ask about a course we do not list, call (212) 548-3284.
Which CPR Class Do I Need for My Role?
Typical starting points. Your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules make the final call.
Nurses, Physicians, and Hospital Staff
Usually BLS Provider, which the AHA designs for healthcare professionals. Staff who direct or take part in managing cardiac arrest, for example in emergency medicine, critical care, or surgery, may also need ACLS. See healthcare provider training.
Healthcare Students
Usually BLS Provider. The AHA includes people enrolled in healthcare training programs in the BLS audience, and each program sets its own requirement. See BLS certification options.
EMTs, Paramedics, Fire, and Police
Usually BLS. The AHA says first responders and professional rescuers typically need BLS and should check with their employer or licensing authority. The AHA's ACLS audience also includes paramedics. See ACLS certification options.
Employers Training a Team
For non-healthcare workers who need CPR and AED training for work, the AHA says Heartsaver CPR AED is probably the best fit; choose Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED when first aid is also required. OSHA does not certify or approve courses. See workplace training.
Childcare Providers
The AHA designs Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED for child care workers. Call us to confirm availability before planning this course. See the Connecticut childcare CPR requirements guide.
Teachers, Coaches, and Parents
The AHA designs Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED for teachers and school staff, coaches, camp counselors, and parents who care for children. Call us to confirm availability before planning this course. For a general workplace CPR requirement, Heartsaver CPR AED, or Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED when first aid is also required, may fit. To learn CPR only to help a loved one, without a course completion card, the AHA suggests Family and Friends CPR. See Heartsaver CPR AED.
Confirm the course and card your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules require before you register.
Types of CPR Certification: AHA Course Names Explained
The American Heart Association names its courses by audience. Most CPR requirements point to one of these.
For people without medical training: Heartsaver
Heartsaver is the AHA's group of first aid, CPR, and AED courses for people with little or no medical training, at work, school, or home.
- Heartsaver CPR AED teaches adult CPR, AED use, and choking relief. Child and infant CPR are optional AHA modules; QKC Health's Heartsaver CPR AED class teaches adult, child, and infant CPR along with AED use and choking relief.
- Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED adds first aid. Its full version, which the AHA calls Heartsaver Total, is designed for workplace and regulatory requirements. The AHA says its Heartsaver Basic version does not generally meet workplace or regulatory requirements.
- Heartsaver First Aid is the first aid course on its own.
- Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED is designed for people responsible for the care of children and infants, such as child care workers, teachers, coaches, and parents.
The AHA designs its workplace Heartsaver courses to meet OSHA requirements, and it also notes that OSHA does not review or approve any courses. Your employer decides what satisfies its obligations.
For healthcare professionals: BLS, ACLS, and PALS
- BLS Provider is the AHA's CPR and AED course for healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and students in healthcare training programs.
- ACLS builds on BLS skills and is for healthcare professionals who direct or take part in managing cardiac arrest, stroke, and other cardiopulmonary emergencies. BLS is not included in the ACLS course.
- PALS is for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children.
For a side-by-side look at the provider and lay rescuer CPR courses, read BLS vs CPR.
Not a course completion card: Family and Friends CPR
Family and Friends CPR is an AHA course for people who want to learn CPR to help a loved one. It gives a certificate of participation, not a course completion card, so it does not meet a work or licensing requirement for a CPR card.
Cards and the 2025 Guidelines
AHA course completion cards are valid for two years, through the end of the month shown as the Renew By date. AHA courses now follow the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC: 2025-version cards have been issued since October 22, 2025, and the AHA stopped issuing 2020-version cards after February 28, 2026. A 2020-version card that is still within its Renew By date remains valid. To plan your next renewal, use the CPR renewal planner.
Initial, Renewal, Blended, or Skills Only: Which Format Fits?
The same AHA card can come from different formats. Your card status and your schedule decide which one fits.
Initial (full) course
Take the full course if this is your first card for the course, or if your card has been expired too long to renew. In a classroom course, an instructor teaches everything in person, including skills practice and testing. QKC Health's BLS Provider Class needs no prior online coursework.
Renewal course
The AHA offers shorter renewal versions of some provider courses, such as the BLS Renewal Course and the ACLS Update Course, and it leaves renewal options to each Training Center. At QKC Health, the BLS Renewal Class and the ACLS Renewal Class are for a current or recently expired card. If your card has been expired for an extended period, you need the full Provider course instead. Bring your current or most recent card to a renewal class. We do not list a separate Heartsaver renewal class, so call us to confirm how to renew a Heartsaver card.
Blended learning: online part, then a skills session
In blended learning, you complete the AHA online part on your own, such as HeartCode BLS or HeartCode ACLS, then attend an in-person skills session with an instructor. The online part does not issue a card by itself, and the AHA sells it separately from the skills session. The AHA offers Heartsaver courses in blended formats too; QKC Health's Heartsaver class pages describe in-person classes, so call us before you buy a Heartsaver online course.
Skills only
If you have already finished the AHA online part, you need only the skills session: the BLS Skills Session after HeartCode BLS, or the ACLS Skills Session after HeartCode ACLS. Bring your online course completion certificate; without proof that you finished the online part, you cannot take the skills test.
Self-guided at a CPR Verification Station
The AHA also offers HeartCode Complete, in which you finish the online part and then practice and test your skills at an approved CPR Verification Station instead of with an instructor. This format is not a QKC Health class.
Online only does not produce an AHA card
Every AHA course that includes CPR skills requires a hands-on skills session before a card is issued. OSHA has also stated that online training alone does not meet its first aid and CPR training requirements.
Book the Course That Fits With QKC Health
QKC Health is an AHA Authorized Training Center serving Fairfield County CT, Westchester County NY, and New Jersey. On-site classes are available for groups of 3 or more.
BLS Provider Class
Complete AHA BLS Provider course for first-time certification or those without a current BLS card. Covers high-quality CPR, AED use, choking relief, and team-based resuscitation.
BLS Renewal Class
Streamlined renewal course for providers with a current or recently expired BLS certification.
BLS Skills Session
For healthcare providers who have completed the AHA BLS online course and need in-person skills testing.
ACLS Provider Class
Comprehensive ACLS provider course for first-time certification. Covers ECG rhythm recognition, pharmacology, airway management, acute coronary syndromes, stroke protocols, and high-performance team dynamics based on the latest AHA guidelines.
View ACLS Provider CourseACLS Renewal Class
Reviews updated algorithms, medication protocols, and team-based resuscitation skills. Must hold a current or recently expired ACLS card.
Heartsaver CPR AED
Learn adult, child, and infant CPR along with AED use and choking relief. No prior training or medical background is required.
Course details and pricing are on each class page. If you finished HeartCode ACLS online, book the ACLS Skills Session. Need first aid too? See First Aid Training, which includes Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, or the Heartsaver First Aid Course. Training a whole team? Workplace training brings the training equipment to your office or facility for groups of 3 or more, and the group CPR training planner helps you prepare a request. Most QKC Health courses require a minimum of three participants; ACLS is available to individual participants.
To find a class date, call (212) 548-3284 or request training. A request is not a booking: a booking is confirmed only once we confirm the course, date, time, and location with you in writing.
Choosing a CPR Course: Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your requirement and your role. If an employer, school or program, or licensing board names a course, take that course. Otherwise, healthcare professionals and first responders usually need BLS Provider, and people without medical training usually need Heartsaver CPR AED, or Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED if first aid is also required.
Most healthcare roles start with BLS Provider. ACLS is an advanced course for healthcare professionals who direct or take part in managing cardiac arrest, stroke, and other cardiopulmonary emergencies. ACLS does not include BLS, and the AHA expects ACLS students to already be proficient in BLS skills. Your employer decides whether you need one or both.
Nurses usually need an AHA BLS Provider card, because the AHA designs BLS for healthcare professionals. The AHA also lists nurses in emergency medicine, critical care, and surgery among the people its ACLS course is for. Your employer or nursing program sets the exact requirement, so confirm it before you register.
Take the full course if this is your first card for the course. The AHA offers shorter renewal versions of some provider courses for people who already hold a card, and it leaves renewal options to each Training Center. At QKC Health, the BLS and ACLS renewal classes are for a current or recently expired card, and our website lists no separate Heartsaver renewal class. Call us to confirm which one fits before you book.
Blended learning splits an AHA course into two parts: an online part, such as HeartCode BLS or HeartCode ACLS, and an in-person skills session with an instructor. The online part does not issue a card by itself, and the AHA sells it separately from the skills session. You receive your card only after the hands-on skills session.
AHA Training Centers set their own fees. At QKC Health, listed prices per person include $115 for Heartsaver CPR AED, $95.99 for the BLS Provider Class, $70 for the BLS Renewal Class, $60 for the BLS Skills Session, and $170 for the ACLS Renewal Class. The price confirmed in writing before your class is the price you pay.
Sources
This tool summarizes the following official sources. Course details were checked against them on October 17, 2026.
- Course FAQs, American Heart Association
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Training, American Heart Association
- BLS Course Options, American Heart Association
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association
- ACLS Course Options, American Heart Association
- Heartsaver Courses, American Heart Association
- Heartsaver CPR AED Training, American Heart Association
- Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Training, American Heart Association
- Family and Friends CPR, American Heart Association
- Course Card Information, American Heart Association
- Course Card Reference Guide (PDF), American Heart Association
- OSHA Standard Interpretation, June 19, 2019, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- OSHA Standard Interpretation, August 2, 2012, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Last updated:
Disclaimer
General information only. This tool is general educational information about American Heart Association (AHA) courses. It is not medical, legal, or OSHA compliance advice. It does not replace hands-on CPR, BLS, or first aid training, and using it does not certify you in any course. In an emergency, call 911.
Accuracy. We strive to keep this tool accurate and current, but AHA guidelines, course content, card rules, and certification requirements can change, and we cannot promise that every detail is complete, current, or free of errors. Prices and class details shown here can also change; the price confirmed in writing before your class is the price you pay.
Check the official source. Before you rely on anything here, confirm course, card, and guideline details with the AHA at cpr.heart.org, and confirm what you are required to hold with your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state agency. If this tool differs from an official source, follow the official source. You are responsible for confirming which course and card you need before you register.
Spot an error? If anything on this page, or anywhere on our site, looks incorrect or out of date, please call us at (212) 548-3284 or send us a message through our contact page so we can review it and update it.
About the AHA. QKC Health LLC is an AHA Authorized Training Center. This tool is written and published by QKC Health, not by the AHA, and the AHA has not reviewed or endorsed it.
The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.
Outside links and terms. Links to the AHA, OSHA, and other outside websites are provided for convenience. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content. Your use of this tool is subject to our Terms of Service, including its Limitation of Liability section and its notices for New Jersey and New York residents.
Printed from qkchealth.com/resources/cpr-course-finder/. General information only, not medical, legal, or compliance advice. Always confirm requirements with the AHA (cpr.heart.org) and with your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state agency. Full terms: qkchealth.com/terms. More free tools and guides: qkchealth.com/resources.